Device for measuring the feet.



J. WEARROWSMITH. DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE FEET.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27, IBIS.

Patented Dec. 24, 19m

2 SHEETS-SHEET I lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll J" W. ARROWSMITH.

DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE FEET.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 21. 1915.

Patented Dec. 2-}, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q F/ *6 g 3 i i 2 N 4/ a b inventor:

4) g Atty JAMES W. ARROWSMITH, OF MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY.

DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE FEET.

Application filed November 27, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns W. Annow- SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Morristown, in the county of Morris, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Measuring the Feet, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to devices designed to measure and chart the size and contour of the human foot, and Particularly to a device intended to make an impression of the length, breadth, and outlines of the foot and simultaneously produce an impression indicating the superficial inequalities of the under side thereof, including the calcaneal,

astragalar, phalangeal, and metatarsal sections. The device is, therefore, useful not only in fitting the wearer with shoes of the proper size and form, but also in providing him with appliances for correcting abnormalities of the instep arch or other parts of the foot.

The object of the invention will appear from the following description and claims, and the accompanying drawings, referred to herein.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a device for measuring and charting the foot embodying the improvements, some of the parts being broken away to expose parts beneath them. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows in that figure. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modification of the invention. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 6 is an elevation of an instrument used in connection with the device.

Referring to Fig. 1, A represents the box or frame in which the operative parts of the device are mounted, and which consists of a bottom and four sides. It is provided with a cover B having a large central opening G, of sufficient length and width to receive the sole of the foot. This cove rests upn the upper edges of the box or frame A, and may be. easily removed therefrom.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24;, 1918.

Serial No. 63,754.

It is held against lateral displacement by the ribs C projecting downwardly there- 1firom and extending across the ends of the In both ends of the box are mounted rollers D provided with thumb wheels E, and running over these rollers is an endless belt F of sheet rubber or other suitable material having a sufficient degree of elasticity to maintain tension, so that when the rollers are revolved by means of the thumb wheelsthe belt will move with them, and having sufficient width to extend across and slightly beyond the edges of the opening in the cover B.

The rollers D have enlarged portions H at their ends, and the belt is carried between these portions and thus prevented from slipping sidewise. If desired, the medial portion of each roller may be made with a diameter slightly increasing from the ends to the middle so as to overcome any tendency of the belt to become wrinkled, and the portion of the roller over which the belt travels is preferably covered with felt o made of some substance which will absorb or hold ink and apply it to the belt.

Suspended on spring strips J, which are supported on bracketsK secured to either side of the box is a table M, made of wood or other slightly yielding material, and at the underside of this table is an ink pad N of felt o other suitable material adapted to be saturated with ink for inking the belt. As the belt revolves its inner side passes over this inking pad, and comes slightly in contact therewith. This contact, however, is not essential, as the belt will be sufficiently inked, in the manner hereinafter described, when pressure is exerted on the table or platen. I

On the side of the box is a longitudinal slot L adapted to receive a sheet 0 of paper or other suitable material, adapted to receive the impression of the foot, which sheet may be passed through the said slot and across the table, under the flexible belt, until it comes in contact with the opposite wall of the box. It is wide enough to project slightly beyond the slot so that it may be taken hold of by the fingers and'easily removed therefrom after an impression is taken.

In'operation the sheet of paper is first inserted, and the foot to be charted is then placed in the opening G with the heel at the end marked Heel and the toes toward the opposite end. The foot is then pressed down on the flexible belt F until sufficient pressure has been exerted to make an impression of the undersurface on the paper sheet or record, the record being preferably provided with suitable markings such as those indicated at 1, 2, 3, etc., Figs. 1 and 41, to indicate the length and width of the shoe which should be worn. Other markings may also be provided for various purposes. While this is being done a pencil or other instrument, such as the small roller shown in Fig. 6, may be run around the outlines of the foot so as to get a permanent and correct marking of the exact outlines on the record sheet. When pressure 1s exerted on the table M it is depressed so that the inking pad N on this under surface 15 pressed against the inner side of the belt and the belt pressed against the bottom of the box or frame, this action being permitted by the spring supporting strips and resulting in the inking of the lnner side of the belt.

In the modification or species of F1gs. 4 and 5 the frame A is of substantially the same proportions as the frame Abut has a fixed sheet of elastic material F nstead of the revolving belt F. This sheet is secured in the rectangular frame P by means of battens R applied to its edges, and 1nk carried by the inking pad N in the bottom of the frame is applied to the under side of the elastic sheet by passing the roller S of Fig. 6 over its upper surface, and at the same tlme exerting pressure on the said roller, or 1n any other suitable manner After this has been done the frame P is removed and the record sheet O spread on the frame U, and the frame P then replaced. The impression may now be taken in the same manner as with the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. If it is desired to avoid exposing the underside of the record sheet to the inking pad, an extra sheet of paper may be placed beneath it when the impression is taken.

The heel stop T may be used in both forms if desired, but in the form of Figs. 4: and 5 it facilitates removal and replacement of the elastic sheet.

A lateral partition V with a central de pression X, through which the handle of the roller may extend forms a compartment W for the reception of the roller when not in use. removal of the record sheet.

It should be understood that the impression taken on this device is not an ordinary impression such as that taken from the plane inked surface of type or plates or of rubber stamps, but an impression indicating the po- This depression X also facilitates the sition and contour of the parts forming the under surface of the foot laterally and also indicating their position and contour vertically. lVhen the impression is taken the greater part of the under surface of the foot will be in contact with the flexible printing sheet, and will be shown in the impression taken, but the density of the impression will depend upon the elevation or depression of each particular part, and in this manner the relative normality or abnormality of the various parts will be made ap parent to orthopedists and others familiar with the anatomy of the foot. The apparatus described and shown is peculiarly adapted to serve this purpose.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a piece of thin flexible material adapted to bear ink or other similar substance for making an impression, means for applying ink or the like to one side thereof, a suitable supporting structure provided with a space to receive said piece of flexible material and also to receive a' sheet of material adapted to take an impression, and said structure adapted to retain the said sheet and flexible piece in super-- posed position, with the sheet underneath i and separated from the flexiblepiece; said supporting structure also having an opening on the upper'side of the flexible piece adapted to permit a portion ofthe human foot to be passed therethrough and pressed against the flexible piece, said flexible piece being mounted to yield and be depressed against the said sheet, whereby an impression may be made upon the said sheet.

2. The combination of a piece of thin flexible material adapted to bear ink or other similar substance for making an impression on one side, means for applying ink or the like in a fluent state to one side thereof, a suitable supporting structure with a space to receive said piece of flexible material and also to receive a sheet of material adapted to take an impression, and said structure adapted to retain the said sheet and flexible piece 1n superposed position, with the sheet underneath, and separated from the flexible piece; said supporting structure also having an openmg on the upper side of the flexible plece adapted to permit a portion of the human foot to be passed therethrough and pressed against the flexible piece, said flexible piece being mounted to yield and be depressed against the said sheet, the side thereof adapted to bear ink being next to the said sheet, whereby an impression may be made upon the said sheet.

3. A device for measuring the feet, comprising an inking member of flexible sheet material, means for inking the said member on one side, comprising a roller, and means for causing the said member to pass over the said roller, a receptacle in which said inking member and roller are mounted, said receptacle having a space for the reception of a sheet to be printed, and a support for said sheet therein below the inkloearing side of the inking member; the said inking member and sheet being supported in parallel planes and spaced from each other; said receptacle having an opening on the side of said inking member opposite the sheet sup-, port of a size to receive the foot.

Witness my hand this 17 day of November, 1915, at the city of New York, in the county and State of New York.

JAMES W. ARROWSMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

